Maca Root: Found only in Peru, it is hailed as a natural source for increased energy and stamina. The root also helps correct sexual dysfunction, reduce symptoms of hormonal dysfunction and imbalance (including menopause), aid memory, improve skin appearance and accelerate healing while also containing anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Camu Camu: Also known as Myrciaria Dubia, it contains the highest levels of vitamin C than any known plant in the world. Camu Camu supports healthy immune function and helps maintain serotonin levels to improve mood while boasting potent antioxidant properties to combat premature aging and cancers.

Sacha Inchi: Also found in the Peruvian Amazon, it contains a high level of omega-3 fatty acids to improve cholesterol levels, and the amino acid tryptophan, which serves to improve the symptoms of depression and overall mental health. Sacha Inchi also reduces symptoms of high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis.

WHY AM I USING SHAKEOLOGY FOR 90 DAYS (AND BEYOND)?

I’ve never been impressed with any type of health food shake or meal replacement to incorporate into my daily diet. But after hearing so much about Shakeology – how it provides increased energy; how it positively impacts the way people look and feel, and natural healing properities – I felt the need to pay attention to Shakelogy and educate myself on its benefits.

The first thing I did was check out the Shakeology’s documentary video (below), and after viewing it, there was an urgency to get it in my food trap.

JOSIE’S DAILY DIARY: 90 DAYS OF SHAKEOLOGY

Day 1: I’ve finally got Shakeology in my hands! I’m blown away by the ingredients and very excited to be doing this experiment. Although I’m only logging my first 90-days to chronicle my results, my intent is continue with Shakeology far beyond that. I made the shake in the morning (I did not workout today) and shared it with my 20-year-old, vegetarian sister. She loved it! Greedy Kid #1 was not impressed, because she doesn’t like chocolate, so not even the great taste of Shakeology was enough to convert her. I damn near had to force Health-hater Husband to try it, but he did. He mumbled under his breath that it was good – this is his normal behavior when he hates to admit that my so-called “weird” healthy foods are tasty to him.

In my first day of Shakeology I spent a lot of time reading the nutrition label. Gah! Why have I never heard of some these ingredients until now? After learning from the video and doing some research on my own, I’m kicking myself that I’m only now beginning to use Shakeology. As I share what I’ve learned with you, my immediate agenda is talk to my family and friends about Shakeology – to educate them and get them using it. It would be a serious disservice to you and everyone I know if I did not share the health benefits of Shakeology and encourage you to try it.

Day 2: I was stingy today because I wanted more of a full serving’s nutrition (bad me to be stingy!), plus I love how it mimics the experience of a chocolate milkshake. I made the shake immediately following my workout to Denise Austin’s Quick Burn Cardio DVD (she kicked my azz). Judging from yesterday’s results, this is perfect as my new go-to breakfast – no more bagels for me. Today I blenderized the Shakeology powder, together with 1 banana, 1 cup almond milk, a scoop of peanut butter (not measured) and a scoop of ice. Now Health-hater husband is hooked! I’ll still need to continue with my healthy mid-morning snacks, like fresh pineapples and kiwis, to stay satiated until lunchtime.

In the months leading up to this Shakeology experiment, breakfast was fast becoming my least favorite meal of the day. But now, with Shakeology, I look forward to feeding my belly in the morning. Bring on Day 3!

Day 3: I didn’t get my Shakeology today. Dang-it! I blame it on a combo of Thanksgiving morning craziness and running late to get the whole family out the door. We ended up stopping at Dunkin Donuts and I ate a crappy breakfast sammich. In the previous two days, my evening energy has been fantastic. But today? Not so much. I can’t say for certain whether it’s because of Thanksgiving shenanigans (and no, I did NOT overeat or go into food coma) or if it’s because I missed Shakeology. But there are many more days to go in my 90-day experiment, so I will continue to chronicle my energy levels to see how Shakeology makes a difference. As for “other stuff”, Shakeology is helping to keep me regular. There was an immediate difference from Day One. I’ll just leave it at that.

Day 4: I was well on my way to NOT getting in my Shakeology again due to a hectic morning… but I refused to let that happen. The car was on the fritz and it was urgent that we get it to the shop early. But I still took 5 minutes to make my Shakeology before rolling out the door. This “rude delay” I caused in the wake of car issues pissed off Health-hater, but I was unapologetic (and kinda proud) for these few minutes I took to take care of my health, despite being pressure not to. Greedy Kid #1 left the Almond milk out last night, so I used Silk Soy milk with the shake instead. No difference – it was just as delicious, but I do prefer the Almond milk because it has only 60 calories per cup compared to Silk’s 100. I spent part of the day educating my mom on some of the ingredients in Shakeology, specifically Sacha Inchi and its ability to stabilize high blood pressure – because hypertension runs in my family. And guess what? That stupid “check engine” light was a false error. They couldn’t find anything wrong with the car.

Day 5: As much as Health-hater b!itched yesterday, he completely embraced the idea of me making him his very own Shakeology when I offered. SCORE! As for me, I enjoyed my own shake after a session of cardio-yoga, and then Bootylicious Buns (holy azz cheeks!). I’m grazing less lately, and today was my first cup of coffee in 3 days. This is amazing, because I consider coffee a tool that is needed to keep my energy levels up and stay awake in the evening. But to NOT need it for 3 days has never happened in all my days of coffee-ing. Does Shakeology have something to do with it? I’m thinking “yes”, but it’s still a little early to say so for sure. The coffee I drank today I only took because it was offered to me – not because I yearned for a needed energy boost. I’ll continue to pay close attention to the Shakeology/extra-energy connection.

Day 6: I was rather irritated today. Greedy Kid #2 convinced me to try fresh strawberries in the shake rather than the bananas that he doesn’t like. But it was just okay for me – not fantastic. I am a creature of habit, and I’d much rather had the bananas and feverishly enjoyed the slurping. On top of this, I sacrificed a portion of my shake to Health-hater, who decided to be a “genius” and pour coffee into it. FAIL! He ended up not drinking it, so my Shakeology went to waste on his stupid coffee experiment. Aargh! By dinner time, I was NOT ravenously hungry for large plates of food (I’m noticing a curbed appetite lately), so I redeemed the day and made another Shakeology – this time the way I wanted to – and had it all to myself. I mentioned some bathroom issues on Day 3, but I am assuming that was a temporary cleansing affect of just getting started on Shakeology. Because now, I am NOT affected by extra poop breaks. Toilet-time is not a problem! (sorry for TMI)

Day 7: I enjoyed my Shakeology around 8am and was only semi-hungry by the time noon came around. I know there are supposed to be certain “rules” to eating right – like having a mid-morning snack – but I wasn’t hungry at mid-morning, so why force myself to eat then? So I didn’t. Instead, I held out comfortably until 1:30pm when I ate warm chicken breast with melted cheddar on a soft tortilla. Then I had a homemade No Bake Raw Oat Bar for lunch-dessert. I didn’t eat again until dinnertime. Shakeology doesn’t contain any weird, synthetic appetite suppressants, so I’m chalking it up to the natural plant-root ingredients it contains that are somehow preventing my appetite from raging. But rewind to the drive home from work. I was in a very good mood to the point that I noticed I was in a “very good mood”. It must be the Sacha Inchi that Shakeology contains. Remember I told you it improves the symptoms of depression and overall mental health? It’s not like I was depressed to begin with, but I’m in a better mood than my normal happy mood. This is very, very interesting.

Day 8: This Shakeology phenomenon of NOT being crazy-Hungry all the time compelled me to write an entire post about it: I Can’t Find My Hungry.

Day 9: I made the Shake a little different today and it came out, eh, okay. I added 1/2 cup of Almond Milk instead of 1 cup, and the banana was smaller than usual. This resulted in there being less Shake to go around – no sharing, and the Chocolate flavor was a little stronger than my liking. I’m going back to my old recipe formula. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? But I am curious how honey will taste in the shake. I’ll gotta shop and try me some honey-fied Shakeology next week!

Fan Photo! “Can’t lie, this Shakeology is the bomb. Didn’t even wait for the cup, started eating from the blender”. [email protected]

Day 10: Today I used the last of the bagged ice for my Shake, so I’m NOT looking forward to tomorrow. Unless husband gets me a bag of ice in the morning, I’ll be S.O.L. and won’t be able to bask in my Shakeology. Yet I’m thinking this might actually be a good thing as part of this Experiment. I’ll be able to see how a day off of Shakeology will make me feel. So there’s a silver lining! Besides the “no more ice” emergency, a lot of crap happened today. The kind of stuff that both pisses you off AND makes you cry. No doubt I was emotional, but I was able to control myself and stay calm through the ordeals I faced. I give props to the Sacha Inchi ingredient for helping me overcome a seriously crappy day that could’ve ended way different if I didn’t keep my cool. My mood continues to be lifted! I going to do some more thorough reading on Sacha Inchi.

Day 11: So I got my ice after all and didn’t have to skip the Shake. I had the genius idea to actually fill up the ice cube tray instead buying ice. Duh! My day went along energized and mood-lifted as normal. But today Health-hater freaked out because of the price of Shakeology. Health-hater goes out in the morning and spends over $5 on coffee and a breakfast sammich. Then he goes out every evening and buys more coffee and usually some kind of snack. That’s about $10 per day total, or $300 a month! I’m the one who should be bitching. So why the freak out over my little $3 per day Shake? He can whine all the wants. I just bought him his own supply of Shakeology so he can stop stealing mine.

Day 12: The day has turned into evening and I still haven’t had my Shakeology (yet). I didn’t eat overeat today, but I didn’t eat healthy either. No fresh fruits or veggies; only a country style breakfast filled with white flour carbs and bacon, and then some pizza later on. Uh oh! Despite this weekend food fail, my energy level was still impressive on this crazy day: morning workout to this plateau-busting DVD, drive to New Jersey, Christmas parade in the freezing cold, grocery shopping, Greedy Baby’s antics – yet I did not become exhausted like I usually do on the weekends. As I write this, it’s 9:30 pm and I’m still not tired. Rather, I’m about to hit the floor from some quickie planks and push ups before I slurp on Shakeology as a late night treat.

Days 13 & 14: On Day 13 I had no shake, but I think I was still running on Shakeology fumes from having one the evening before. My energy level was pretty damn impressive. But hold the phone. By the end of day 14, I was back to feeling like boiled goat giblets dipped in rancid hogwash – just like I felt occasionally before starting the 90 Day Experiment. Yes, I got my Shakeology the morning of day 14, but the events of the day (hectic work, whining kids, too many house chores, driving all over the earth) ran me so far into the ground, I felt victimized by exhaustion. So here’s the realization – Shakeology is NOT a super hero wonder food that will prevent you from never feeling like sh!t. I didn’t take care of myself on Day 14. I didn’t drink enough water and didn’t continue to fuel properly throughout the day after almost and hour of Pilates and a hectic schedule. This is all my fault..not Shakeology’s.

Days 15 & 16: On the morning of Day 15, I craved my steel cut oats recipe. So I made it instead of Shakeology. And I was hungry again by 10am. Yet steel oats are good for you, so its not like I’m removing them from my diet. This change in my morning eating threw off the whole day. I ate a lot more and my Hungry came back. My whole day was out of whack. Thank goodness Day 15 was an exercise rest day, ‘lest I’d have turn beastly and ate a bunch of cookies… (oh wait, I did that, too). When Day 16 came around it was Shakeology-business as usual, and I’m finding a pattern. When I gulp the Shake for breakfast I don’t get hungry until almost noon and I have the ability to focus much better.

Days 17-21: Well, it looks like I’m officially in Smooth Sailing mode. Everything has leveled out into the upper-echelons of energy, appetite control and plain ‘ole bliss. Days 17-21 ran into my weekend. My busy weekend mommy-mode typically leaves me feeling rundown, tore up and whimpering with pathetic sorrows. But alas! This is a new experience EVER IN MY LIFE that I have not whimpered or felt like a de-energized floor mat. Not even my No-Sugar Experiment (which was still frackin’ awesome) trumps the high energy levels I have right now. I can handle mommy-mode like the Energizer Bunny. In a nutshell, I just don’t get exhausted like I used to. Sure, I get tired. I yawn and I nap at will, but except for that “all-my-fault” incident I recorded on Days 13-14, the sorrows of exhaustion are not part of life like they used to be. In other news, I finally got around to posting my Day 18 body picture. As of that day, I officially lost 4.2 pounds since starting Shakeology. Pretty awesome stuff. Let’s keep this thing rollin’.

Days 22 – 29: I’ve noticed some more great things. My nails are getting stronger and they’re growing faster than normal. In other news, on Day 24 I decided to be a so-called genius and forego my Shakeology for the day. The result? Even though I ate a banana and Greek yogurt for breakfast, I was hungry by 10am. That irritated me. Sure, the breakfast was sensible and healthy, but I had to fight through the morning to manage my hunger, just like the not-so-good ‘ole days before I started drinking the shakes. With Shakeology, I just slurp in the morning without the irritation of mid-morning hungry. There were a few days, however, when I went super hard on my workouts and felt I required some more fueling before lunch. So I did that. Besides these new developments, on Day 29 I wore my skinny jeans – the same ones I wore a little over two weeks ago. But now? They are officially droopy on me. The weight is obviously continuing to come off.

Days 30 – 41: I’m on autopilot. Cruise control. Shakeology is a necessity now, but don’t worry. I’m not talking a crackhead-type necessity. At this point I’ve gone beyond experimenting with the Shake. After my 90 days is up there’s no doubt I’ll continue with it as part of my fitness routine. I made the shake for some family on Christmas morning. They loved it! It’s so easy to share my love for Shakeology and talk about it, because it’s not a bunch of BS. It’s not a gimmick and with shady promises. But don’t just take it from me – take a look at this video below, “See What Doctors Are Saying About Shakeology”. As for progress, my body composition is changing. I’m seeing parts of my ab muscles I haven’t seen since….never! I also lost a fatty part around my knee-area that I never even realized was even fatty (that’s how used I was to my legs looking like that). Overall there is more definition in my body. This progress, of course, has been coupled with exercise. You gotta move that body!

Recipe: Chocolate Mocha Shakeology

1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology

1 cup cold coffee (cool the brewed coffee over ice first)

1/2 cup water; or nonfat milk; soy, rice, or almond milk

Ice to taste

Tip: Add cinnamon and nutmeg for a cappuccino-flavored shake!

Days 42 – 62: It was a rough 20 days. I got super busy with just about everything – work, home, kids, blogging, ebook writing – I’ve been late for work, running on about 4 hours sleep each night, and NOT slurping my Shakeology consistently. In the time when I need it most, I slacked off and made excuses why I couldn’t take 5 dang minutes every day to make the shake that has personally proven itself to give me the energy I so desperately need. In the last 20 days, I’ve had my Shakeology probably 10 times. So that’s basically every other day instead of consistently EVERY day. What’s wrong with that, you say? Welp, I do feel the difference. It’s had a backwards affect and been serious energy drain. I’ve skipped days of Shakeology here and there before with no lost affects, but to skip days for such an extended period of time does not work for me. I’m glad I know this now. I’m listening to my body and back doing what I need to do, so perhaps this was a necessary lesson. I’ve always looked at Shakeology in terms of what it can do for ME and me only, but it’s benefits were actually helping me to also do what I need to do for my family, while giving me the natural boost I need to do everything that my crazy days demand….. Check out what a Twitter bud of mine says about Shakeology. And if you haven’t watched this video yet: See What Doctors Are Saying About Shakeology, do yourself a favor and watch it.

Weight Progress

Day 1: 172.8 pounds

Day 62: 166.4 pounds

I’m not intimidated by slow weight loss, especially since I’m building muscle, and that affects the number on the scale. I’m in a size 6 and have noticed more muscle definition. My abs are especially coming along nicely.

I know that shakeology is supposed to be a filling meal replacement, but don’t you feel like you didn’t eat breakfast, since you actually didn’t, you just drank it? I feel like I’d want something to actually chew or I would psychologically feel hungry. Has that happened to you? Also, does it help build muscle (or, since im female, really just tone)?

Breakfast has never been my favorite meal of the day. Yet Shakeology is still filling for the morning – at least me for me. Except for today (because I went extra hard on my workout), I’m able to get around to the noon hour without hunger pangs by mid-morning. Only thing about this is, my mid-morning snacks have always been healthy and I want to make sure I continue to eat healthy snacks throughout the day. I tried at Shake at night for a late night, dessert-ing snack, but it end up being too filling. I won’t eat it at night anymore.

I has protein in it, but not “protein shake” amounts geared toward building muscle.

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Well, hello there.

Hi! I'm Josie. This is where I share my passions for healthy living, natural health, fitness, and happiness. My goal is for you to be empowered and informed by what you read and learn here. I'm 44 years old and I love Jesus. I've been married to my husband for 13 years. I have 4 children (ages 24, 21, 12 and 8), and I'm also a grandmother to a sweet 2-year old little girl. I've lost over 40 pounds during my weight loss journey. I encourage you to stay empowered. Always keep your head up and stay strong! Meet Josie